Mining machine having vertically swingable cutter head and reciprocable gathering mechanism



June 12. 1956 F. CARTLIDGE 2,750,179

MINING MACHINE HAVING VERTICALLY SWINGABLE CUTTER HEAD AND RECIPROCABLEGATHERING MECHANISM Filed March 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

FRAN K CARTLIDGE ATTORNEY June 12. 1956 cARTLlDGE 2,750,179

MINING MACHINE HAVING VERTICALL-Y SWINGABLE CUTTER HEAD AND RECIPROCABLEGATHERING MECHANISM Filed March 27, 1953 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.FRANK CARTLIDGE ATTORNEY June 12. 1956 F. CARTLIDGE 2,750,179

MINING MACHINE HAVING VERTICALLY SWINGABLE CUTTER HEAD AND RECIPROCABLEGATHERING MECHANISM Filed March 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Shee v 3 INVENTOR. FRAN K CARTLI DGE ATTORN EY June 12. 1956 F. CARTLIDGE 2,750,179

MINING MACHINE HAVING VERTICALLY SWINGABLE CUTTER A HEAD ANDRECIPROCABLE GATHERING MECHANISM Filed March 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4QH I E] EM ail nil in 92 INVENTOR.

FRANK CARTLIDGE ATTORNEY June 12, 1956 F CARTLIDGE 2,750,179

MINING MACHINE HAViNG VERTICALLY SWINGABLE CUTTER HEAD AND RECIPROCABLEGATHERING MECHANISM ATTO RNEY is swung to a cutting :position at'or nearthe floor.

United States Patent MINING MACHHNE HAVENG VERTICALLY SWINGABLE CUTTERHEAD AND RECE- ROCABLE GATHERENG MECHANISM 4 Claims. (Cl. 262- 26) Thisinventionrelatesto improvements in mining machines of the continuousminer type, wherein a vertically'swingable ripper or cutter head ismounted at the frontend of a mobile base for cutting and dislodging coalfrom the solid working face, and wherein a material gathering element isalso carried on the frame for movement along the ground beneath theswinging ripper head for removing the loose material as it is dislodgedfrom the working face.

In mining machines of the general character above described, both theripper head and the gathering means have been mounted on the mobile basefor limited movement in unison toward and away from the Working face,with the gathering mechanism extending forwardly as far as permissibleto avoid interfering with the vertical swinging movement of the ripperhead when the latter With this arrangement, there is often a tendencyfor cuttings to accumulate'on the mine floor iminediately'in advanceof'the, gathering mechanism, particularly when the ripper head is swungaway from the mine floor, in which case it is difficult, if notimpossible, to cleanup all the cuttings from the mine floor with thegathering mechanism.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel formand arrangement of gathering mechanism which is mounted for reciprocablemovement relative to the gathering head in response to vertical swingingmovement of thelatter, so as to be projected into an advanced gatheringposition when the ripper head is swung into positions above the minefloor, but is retracted from interfering relation with the ripper headwhen the latter is swung downwardly to positions at or near the floorlevel.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic means foradjusting the forward and retractive movements of the gathering meansrelative to the swinging ripper head so as to maintain a substantiallyuniform working clearance between said gathering means and ripper headwhen the latter is swung into positions at or near the mine floor.

Other objects 'and advantages of the present invention will appear fromtime to time as the following description proceeds.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mining machine embodying my invention, withparts broken away;

Figure 2 is a side view of the "machine shown in Figure 1, also withcertain parts broken away and with other parts shown in longitudinalsection;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the front end of the machineshowing the ripper head swung to its substantially lowermost positionand with the gathering means retracted to its extreme rearwardmostposition;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the ripper head atits substantially highest point of elevation and with the gatheringmeans projected forwardly to its forwardmost position;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the train of gearing from onedrive motor to the ripper head and the gathering means associatedtherewith;

Figure 6 is'an enlarged longitudinal sectionofagat-hering means showingthe latter tilted upwardly out of engagement with the ground; 7

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the cutter head, withparts broken away.

Referring now to details of the embodiment of my invention shown in thedrawings, the same are shown as applied to a mining machine of a generaltype broadly disclosed in a copending application of Lundquist-andLindgren bearing Serial Number 186,326 filed September 23, 1950, nowPatent No. 2,695,700, and 'also a copending application of Frank A.Lindgren bearing Serial Number 236,548, filed July 13, -1951, now PatentNumber 2,642,981, both owned by the as'signeeof *the present invention.As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mining machine comprises generally'amobile main frame A, having a center section 10 mounted onendless'treads H, a rear boom '12 pivotally mounted on the centersection 10 for horizontal swinging movement about an upright axis 13 andfor up-and-do'wn tilting movement about a transverse axis 14, and aswinging front section '15 mounted on the center section 10 forhorizontal swinging movement about an upright axis 17. The auxiliaryframe B is carried on the swinging front section 15 of the main frame Aand is mounted for forward and backward reciprocation thereon.

The auxiliary frame B carries a pair of electric motors 1'8, 18 fordriving an elongated ripper head C and gathering means D throughgeartrains to be described in greater detail hereinafter. Suitable pistonand cylinder means (not shown) is provided as usual for moving thereciprocable frame, together with the motors i8, ripper head C,gathering means D and associated parts,

forward 'and backward in unison relative to the front swinging section15 of the main frame A.

The ripper head C is pivoted for up-and-do'wn movement relative toauxiliary frame B about a horizontal axis, indicated at 16 in Figures 1and 2. A pair of double-acting cylinders and pistons 1%,19 (Figure 1)are pivotally connected between a cross piece 2% on the ripper head Cand bifurcated extensions 23, of the frame B to raise and lower theripper head C. The cross piece 20 connects side frames 21, 21 on whichcutter chains 22, 22 are guided for driving a drum rotatably mounted atthe front end of the ripper 'headfC.

A double-acting cylinder 25 (Figure 1) is effective to swing the frontswinging section '15, together with the reciprocable frame B and ripperhead C and other parts carried thereby, from right to left or from leftto right when actuated by suitable hydraulic controls (not shown).

The extensible conveyor means, generally designated at E, is hereinshown as being of a conventional flexible center strand flight conveyortype, including an endless chain 26 and longitudinally spaced transverseflights 27.

The conveyor is articulated at suitable points for permitting bothlateral and up-and-down swinging movement of the front swinging section15 and the rear boom 12, in substantially the same manner as disclosedin the above-mentioned copending applications, Serial Numbers 186,326and 236,548.

Means, indicated at F in Figures 1 and 2, are also provided on the mainframe A for automatically adjusting the tension of the conveyor chain 26to compensate for forward and rearward extension or retraction of thegathering means B relative to the main frame A, as well as for lateralswinging movement of the front and rear ends of the conveyor. Thisconveyor chain ten'sioning mechanism may be of the same type broadlydisclosed and described in either of said copending applications, the

illustrative form indicated at F being the same as shown in application,Serial Number 236,548, hence it need not be further described in detail.

The gathering means D, shown for illustrative purposes herein, isessentially of the same type of chain gathering mechanism disclosed inthe copending application, Serial Number 186,326, above referred to,excepting that, in the present instance, the gathering mechanism ismounted for forward and rearward movement relative to the reciprocableframe B on which it is mounted, in response to the swinging movement ofthe ripper head C, while maintaining a continuous driving connectionbetween the gathering mechanism and the motors 18, 18 on thereciprocable frame B, and also maintaining the conveyor inmaterialreceiving relation to the gathering mechanism, in all positionsof horizontal movement of the latter.

The gathering means D is mounted for up-and-down pivotal movement abouta transverse axis passing through trunnions 30, 30 in blocks 31, 31which are mounted for horizontal sliding movement in guides 32, 32formed in depending side plates 33, 33 at opposite sides of thereciprocable frame B.

With the exception of this means for slidably mounting the trunnions 30,30 for the gathering means D, the structure of the gathering means issubstantially the same as disclosed in the copending application, SerialNumber 186,326. The principal features of the gathering means consist ofa generally U-shaped apron 34, having a forward gathering edge 35adapted to engage the mine floor, and spaced side wings 36 along whichare mounted endless chains 37, each guided in an elongated orbital pathabout a driving sprocket 38 and a guide 39. Said chains carry aplurality of gathering arms 40 which extend, as usual, beyond the frontedge 35 of the apron, for picking up loose material from the mine floorand discharging it on the front end of the conveyor E, which extendsforwardly into the space between the side wings 36 of the gatheringapron 34.

The front end of conveyor chain 26 of the conveyor E is trained about anidler shaft mounted, as usual, beneath the gathering apron 34, so thatthe front end of said chain moves with the gathering means in allpermissible positions of the latter. Further description of thegathering apron 34 is not necessary herein, as it may be substantiallythe same as disclosed and described in copending application ofLundquist and Lindgren, bearing Serial Number 186,326.

The drive sprockets 38, 38 for the gathering chains are fixed on stubshafts 42, 42 having bevel pinions 43, 43 at their lower ends meshedwith pinions 44, 44 on horizontal shafts 45, 45. The latter shaftsextend outwardly through bearings 46, 46 in the trunnions 30, 30,concentric with the latter, and have pinions 47, 47 fixed on their outerends meshing with pinions 48, 48 on longitudinal stub shafts 49, 49 alsojournalled near their front ends in blocks 31, 31, so as to be slidablewith the latter along guides 32, 32.

The major portion of each stub shaft 49 has splines 50 atfording slidingand driving engagement in the splined front end of a hollow annularclutch member 51 which is rotatably mounted on adjacent side plate 33.The clutch member 51 has a plurality of clutch discs 52 mounted thereinalternately engaged with said hollow clutch member and with a clutchsleeve 53 surrounding the splined portion 50 of the stub shaft 49. Theclutch sleeve 53 has a sprocket 54 fixed thereon adapted for connectionto a sprocket 55 by chain 56. The sprocket 55 is mounted on a driveshaft 57 forming part of the drive connections from motors 18 to theripper head C. Further description of said drive connections to the headC is not necessary as they may be the same as that disclosed anddescribed in the previously mentioned application of Lundquist andLindgren bearing Serial Number 186,326.

Each longitudinal stub shaft 49 has a smooth annular bearing collar 65at its extreme rear end of slightly larger diameter than the splinedportion 50. Said bearing collar is slidably engaged in a sleeve 66mounted on the subframe B rearwardly of and in alignment with the clutchsleeve 53 so as to maintain the shaft 49 in proper axial alignment inall permissible positions of extension or retraction of the shaft 49relative to the hollow clutch member 51 during reciprocable movement ofthe gathering means D.

Suitable means may be provided for controlling engagement of the discclutch members 51, 53 including a conventional follower plate 67 mountedon the clutch sleeve 53 in position to engage or disengage the discs inthe usual manner.

Means for tilting or swinging the apron 34 of the gathering means D,together with the parts carried thereby, about its trunnioned axiscoincident with the transverse stub shafts 45, 45 include a pair ofhydraulic cylinders 70, 70 which are pivotally connected at their upperends to pins 71, 71 mounted at opposite sides of the subframe B. Thecylinders 70 have pistons 72 therein, pivotally connected at their lowerends to links 73, 73, each disposed in a forwardly inclined position andhaving their front ends connected at 74, 74 to opposite sides of thegathering apron 34 adjacent its rear end. Each link 73 also has ashorter link 75 pivotally connected thereto at its lower end andinclined upwardly where it is pivoted to a rearwardly extending ear 76connected to the extreme rear of the gathering apron 34. The linkagejust described, connecting the lower ends of the pistons 72 with thegathering apron, is substantially the same as shown in Lundquist andLindgren application bearing Serial Number 186,326, so that furtherdescription thereof is not necessary, excepting to point out that, inthe machine of the present application, the cylinders 70 and pistons 72are pivotally suspended from pins 71 adjacent the top of the subframe Bso that the lower ends of both of these hydraulic devices are free toswing and accommodate themselves properly during reciprocating movementof the gathering mechanism D when the latter slides forwardly andrearwardly on blocks 31 relative to the side plates 33. Accordingly, aswill be seen in Figure 3, when gathering mechanism is in its fullyretracted position toward the rear of the machine, the piston andcylinder will be swung to a somewhat rearwardly inclined position,whereas, when the gathering mechanism is swung to its forwardmostposition, as indicated in Figure 4, the cylinder and piston will beswung to a forwardly inclined position. It will be understood, however,that the hydraulic cylinder and piston are of the usual double-actingtype and under the control of the operator in any permissible positionof reciprocal movement of the gathering mechanism, so as to permittilting of the gathering mechanism relative to the ground for purposesand under conditions as will presently be described in greater detail.

It will be understood that the forward and rearward reciprocation of thegathering head D with respect to the auxiliary subframe B also involvesthe limited extension and retraction of the parts of the conveyor Ewhich support the endless conveyor chain 26 and the transverse flights27. Such extension and retraction of the conveyor may be afforded by thesame telescopic frame arrangement utilized in the machine disclosed anddescribed in the Lundquist and Lindgren application bearing SerialNumber 186,326 previously mentioned, in which a similar gathering headis provided with a telescoping conveyor section indicated generally at77 in Figure 2, on the downwardly inclined portion of the conveyor atthe front end of the machine between a transverse axis 78 about whichthe telescoping conveyor section 77 is hinged. Inasmuch as the machineof the present invention merely requires an additional amount of forwardor rearward extension of the conveyor E, as compared with that providedin the machine of the aforesaid application Serial Number 186,326, thesame form of telescoping section, indicated at 77, may be employed inthe present machine to maintain a continuous extensible trough for theconveyor chain from the gathering apron 34 to the rear end of themachine. Accordingly,.futther descriptioi'iv of the telescoping conveyorsection 77 is not necessary for the purposes of the present invention.

The means for, reciprocating the gathering head D in response to thevertical, swinging; movement of the, ripper head C consists of a pair oflinks; 80, 80., each pivotally connected at its rear end. to anupstanding lug 81 fixed on one of the guides 29 of the gathering apron34 adjacent the rear endthereof. Each such link extends forwardly and ispivotally connected to an arm 82 having an annular bearing portion 83 atone end rofatably supported on an enlarged stud 84 carried by the ripperhead C concentric with its transverse axis 16. Each of said armsnormally depends substantially beyond and generally below the pivotalmounting of the ripper head, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Two pins 86and 87 are fixed on the cutter head in circumferentially spaced relationto each other in position to engage notches 88 and 89 formed on oppositesides of each arm 82, and yet provide lost motion between the arm andthe ripper head C circumferentially of the latter. The arrangement ofthe lost-motion means and the links 80 is such that, when the ripperhead C is swung to a position at or near the floor level as shown inFigure 3, the pins 86, carried on the ripper head, will engage in notch88 of each arm to move the gathering head D rearwardly and maintain itsfront end at a substantially fixed distance from the gathering chains 22and cutter bits carried on the drum 24 of said ripper head. Thus, in theposition shown in Figure 3, the cutter chains 22 and cutter bits on drum24 are shown in a position substantially below the floor level,indicated at F in this figure, while the gathering head D has been movedby arms 82 and links 80 to its substantially rearwardmost position onauxiliary frame B. When the ripper head is swung upwardly from thelowermost position of Figure 3, it will be observed that forwardmovement of the gathering head D will not begin until the pin 87 on theripper head engages in notch 89 on bracket 85, whereupon the gatheringhead D will then be moved forwardly in response to the upward swingingmovement of the ripper head.

Figure 4 illustrates substantially the extreme upwardmost position ofthe movement of the ripper head. It also shows the gathering head D insubstantially its forwardmost position.

Accordingly, by reason of the linked connection including thelost-motion means above described, it will be understood that thegathering means D will be automatically moved to a relatively advancedposition whenever the ripper head is being swung to a position above thefloor but, when the ripper head is in position at or near the floor, thegathering means will be retracted to maintain a working clearancebetween the cutter bits on the ripper head C and the gathering arms ofthe gathering device, thus eliminating any danger of interferencetherebetween, but leaving the gathering means temporarily in itsforwardmost position to insure an advanced range of material-gatheringon the floor when the ripper head is raised from the floor. v

Further advantages in the use and operation of the machine, includingthe means for extending or retracting the gathering means D in responseto the swinging movement of the ripper head, will be manifest to thoseskilled in the art. For instance, it will be understood that sometimesthe ripper head may be advanced such a distance during succeedingvertical swinging cuts that a low triangular ridge of solid or partiallybroken coal may be left on the floor just to the rear of the ripper headbut forwardly of the normal range of advance of the gathering arms andchains on the gathering means D. Such ridge of coal can usually begathered or cleaned up from the floor by the forward movement of thegathering means while the ripper head is being swung upwardly, at thesame time positioning the front end of the gathering apron to a greateradvanced position where it can receive and gather a larger proportion ofthe coal being dislodged from the working face by the ripper head.

It will be further understood: that, in, practice, it is usuallydesirable to utilizethe tilting or-elevating-means for. the front end ofthe gathering means- D only at such times that the machine as a wholeis: being transported or trammed from one working place to another. Whenthe machine is being operated for cutting and dislodging coal, thehydraulic pressure on theelevating cylinders 70, 70, which; control thetilting movement of the gathering, means, will then be released so thatthe front. end'of the gathering apron merely rests by its own weight onthe floor in gathering position. Accordinglgy, it is unimportant thatthe lifting cylinders 70 and pistons 72 may be swung in a short arcduring the forward and rearward movement of the gathering means relativeto the subframe B, since said lifting means are not usually operativeduring the forward and rearward gathering movement of the gatheringmeans, in response to the vertical swinging movement of the ripper head.Nevertheless, the lifting means can be utilized under some cuttingconditions, as for instance when it is desired to raise the front end ofthe gathering means over a ledge or for following an uneven bottom.

Although I have shown and described certain embodi ment of my invention,it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exactconstruction shown and described, but that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mining machine having a mobile base, a frame having a cutterhead pivotally mounted thereon for up and down swinging movement about atransverse axis; cuttings gathering mechanism mounted for forward andbackward reciprocable movement on said frame and haw ing rearwardlymovable gathering elements efiective to convey cuttings to the rearthereof; a longitudinally disposed conveyor on said frame having atleast its forward end connected to said gathering mechanism, in cuttingsreceiving relation with the rear end thereof, for forward and backwardmovement therewith; and connecting means between said cutter head andgathering mechanism for shifting the gathering mechanism and end of theconveyor forward responsive to upward swinging movement of the cutterhead and for shifting the gathering mechanism and end of the conveyorbackward responsive to downward swinging movement of the cutter head; soas to maintain a working clearance between said gathering mechanism andsaid cutter head in all relative positions thereof.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the gathering elements of thegathering mechanism are orbitally movable in inclined planes alongopposite sides of the conveyor.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the rear end of the gatheringmechanism is pivotally connected to the frame for swinging movement on atransverse axis, to permit the front end of said gathering mechanism tobe supported in floating engagement with the floor during its horizontalreciprocable movement.

4. In a mining machine having a mobile base, a frame having a cutterhead pivotally mounted thereon for up and down swinging movement about atransverse axis; cuttin s gathering mechanism mounted for forward andbackward reciprocable movement on said frame and having rearwardlymovable gathering elements effective to convey cuttings to the rearthereof; a longitudinally disposed conveyor on said frame having itsforward end in continuous cuttings receiving relation beneath the rearof said gathering mechanism throughout the entire forward and backwardrange of movement of the latter; and means, including a linkageconnecting the gathering mechanism to the head, for moving the gatheringmechanism forward and backward responsive, respectively, to up and downswinging movement of the cutter head, said linkage having lost motionmeans for temporarily leaving the gathering mechanism in an advancedposition while the cutter head is initially being swung downwardly andin retracted position while the cutter head is initially being swungupwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBurnell Mar. 20, 1923 Forsyth Jan. 26, 1926

